i8o The Hunting Wasps 



victim's long palpi and continues its hauling- 

 work, without appearing at all perturbed by 

 this change in the harness. I leave it alone. 

 The prey is brought home and placed so that 

 its head faces the entrance to the burrow ; 

 and the Wasp goes in by herself, to make a 

 brief inspection of the inside of the cell before 

 proceeding to warehouse the provisions. Her 

 behaviour reminds us of that of the Yellow- 

 winged Sphex in similar circumstances. I take 

 advantage of this short moment to seize the 

 abandoned prey, remove all its palpi and place 

 it a little farther off, about half a yard from the 

 burrow. The Sphex reappears and goes straight 

 to her captive, whom she has seen from her 

 threshold. She looks at the top of the head, 

 she looks underneath, on either side, and finds 

 nothing to take hold of. A desperate attempt 

 is made : the Wasp, opening wide her mandibles, 

 tries to grab the Ephippiger by the head ; but 

 the pincers have not a sufficient compass to 

 take in so large a bulk and they slip off the round, 

 polished skull. She makes several fresh endea- 

 vours, each time without result. She is at 

 length convinced of the uselessness of her 

 efforts. She draws back a little to one side and 

 appears to be renouncing further attempts. 

 One would say that she was discouraged ; at 

 least, she smooths her wings with her hind- 



